Become a Volunteer

Give Your Time… and Your Heart

Temporarily On Hold

IMPORTANT NOTICE!

We have had an overwhelming response for volunteer support and are incredibly grateful.  Due to the number of new volunteers currently waiting for training, we must place new volunteer application processing on hold.

We expect to have the influx of new volunteers trained by the end of October, so please check back with us then. 

As always, we appreciate your support and encourage you to consider becoming part of our Foster Program to help the animals in our care in need of urgent, temporary placement.

We have moved into our new forever home at 10501 Hague Road in Fishers! We have also expanded our square footage from 8,000 sq ft to 40,000 sq feet. This means we need a LOT more help with new and existing programs and our volunteers are key to the success of our mission to save animals.

What can you do as a volunteer? The opportunities are endless! Here are just a few!

  • -Support Roles from operations and laundry support to cleaning and feeding
  • -Cat Program including enrichment time, cage cleaning at HSHC and at Petco and Petsmart Adoption Centers, Catio Time
  • -Dog Program including cleaning, walking, enrichment and rehab
  • -Off-Site Fundraising Event Assistance
  • -Marketing Program Animal Profile Assistance, Donor Relations and more
  • -Specialty Roles; Rescue Team, Troop Assistance, Lobby Greeter, Photography and Retail Shop  to name just a few
  • -Fostering and Pets Healing Vets Program

We are accepting volunteer applications for people ages 16 and up and we hope you will click the link below and start the process to join our volunteer family.  Once you fill out the application, our Volunteer Programs Manager (volunteerprograms@hamiltonhumane.com) will be contact you to help schedule an orientation date. Thank you for your interest and desire to support our life-saving efforts.

Already a volunteer? Click here to login to our Volunteer Portal

Volunteer Login

How to Become a Volunteer

To become a volunteer, begin by completing our online volunteer application form. You can complete it online, print it out and mail it, or bring it to the shelter in person.

Next, we’ll ask you to complete a volunteer orientation session where you’ll get to:

*Receive and review your volunteer handbook
*Learn about HSHC’s history and no-kill philosophy
*Discover the best ways to match your skills and interests with our needs
*Tour the facility and meet our adoptable pets

Donate

Volunteering by the Numbers

23330

Hours volunteered in 2020
408

Volunteers serving HSHC
29

Different volunteer opportunities at any given time
  • 01.

    Volunteer Opportunities for Adults

    Shelter volunteers fulfill so many critical needs for us such as:

    • Operations Support (e.g. laundry, dishes, general housekeeping, cage/kennel cleaning, feeding)
    • Cat Enrichment
    • Dog Walking
    • Lobby Greeter
    • Animal Transport
    • Transporting, handling & advocating for adoptable animals at special events
    • Supporting the marketing team at special events
    • Special Office Projects
    • Fundraising/Marketing Support (e.g. event planning, procurement of auction items)
    • Building Maintenance & Lawn Care Projects

     

  • 02.

    Lead Volunteer Program

    We have a limited number of Lead Volunteer Positions within our organization. These special volunteers are considered a part of our staff in that they are included in  strategic planning meetings and offer input on HSHC programs, policies and procedures.  Lead Volunteers are often placed into positions that require supervision of other volunteers, so they receive special training as needed.

    Because we ask a lot of our Lead Volunteers, HSHC offers our leads some pretty cool perks:

    • Leads are featured on our website as part of Our Team alongside our HSHC Management Team and receive a special Lead Volunteer name tag.
    • Leads receive two complimentary tickets to our major annual fundraisers–Tinsel & Tails and Wine, Wags & Whiskers.
    • Leads and their plus ones are invited to join us for our annual employee holiday party.

    And last, but certainly not least…our leads receive many of the same great pet perks as our employees including:

    • Annual vaccines and labs (e.g., bloodwork, fecal, urinalysis) at HSHC’s cost which is a fraction of the cost at most veterinary practices
    • Order non-prescription medications at HSHC’s cost (preventatives, supplements)
    • Order prescription foods (with a prescription from a veterinarian) at HSHC’s cost

  • 03.

    Corporate Group Volunteer Opportunities

    Many organizations encourage their employees to give back to the community. Some even offer a paid day off to do it! If you’d like to organize a group volunteer day at the shelter, please read our Group Volunteer Policies here. You can also download the form linked in the button below and email it back to our Volunteer Program Manager at volunteers@hamiltonhumane.com.

    Group Volunteer Form
  • 04.

    Student Volunteer Program

    HSHC offers a Student Volunteer Program for those 16 years of age or older in need of completing service hours for their class requirements or club service projects.  Students who wish to enter this program will be able to assist HSHC with a variety of volunteer opportunities.

    Opportunities include but are not limited to:

    • Support Help at our facility doing tasks such as laundry, dishes, cleaning, working in our food storage room, and helping us maintain our grounds.
    • Assisting the staff in various office tasks.
    • Assisting at off-site events.

    Click here to read our Student Volunteer Program guidelines.

    Contact Us
  • 05.

    Court Ordered Community Service

    The Court Ordered Community Service Program is available for individuals who are required to complete court ordered community service hours. Please review our Court Ordered Community Service Program guidelines.

    Email Volunteer Program Manager

Volunteer Spotlight: Trudy Baldwin

Read Her Story

Trudy has logged more hours than any other volunteer in the history of HSHC.  She began her volunteerism as a dog walker, but at the time, we didn’t have a formalized program.  Trudy took the lead in developing the Dog Walking Program including the processes and procedures we still use to this day.   The impact Trudy has had, and continues to have, on our organization is beyond measure.

  • Trudy Baldwin has been a Lead Volunteer with HSHC for over a decade.  Trudy was instrumental in the development of our Dog Walking Program and manages it to this day.

Love & Let Live

Every animal deserves a second chance at love — and life. We invite you to be part of the solution and give back to the animals who give us so much.

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